Concrete form spacer



' Oct. 21, 1941. R. c. DAY

CONCRETE FORM SPACER Filed June 27, 1958 A llor neg Patentecl Oct. 21, 1941 H UNITED STATES PATENT l OFFICE a 2,259,555} a V coNcaEf'rE FORM SPACER Roy 0. Day, Crawfordsvilltai Ind. Application'June 27, 19st; seiiarNo. 216,026 20m (01525- 131) 7 l My invention relates to improvements'in concrete form spacers and it 'more especially includes the features pointed outin the claims. The purpose of my invention is to provide means for expeditiously adjusting the cO-related sides of concrete forms into alignment that uses a central rod which passes through the form on which rapidly adjustable clamps are positioned on the outsides of the form walls; that provides means for retaining such rods within the completed concrete against endwise movement and against turning while the ends are. cut off some distance in from the finished outer faces after which the openings ,left by the cones can be sealed ofi by placing cement around the rods to close 'theopening left by the positioning cones, against leakage through the concrete walls.

This invention is an improvement on that disclosed in my Patent No. 2,069,085'of January 26, 1937.

With these and other ends in View I illustrate in the accompanying drawing such instances of adaptation as will disclose the broad features of my invention without limiting myself to the specific details shown thereon and described herein.

Fig. 1 is a sideelevation partly in section showing spacing collars applied to the tie rod on which the adjusting clamps are attached outside of the form.

Fig. 2 is a detached elevation of a positioning collar and an adjacent elevation.

Fig. 3 is a detached sectional view showing the closing of the cone cavities.

Fig. 4; is an end elevation of a clamping barrel and wedge.

Fig. 5 is a modification of Fig. 1 in that an additional adjusting clamp is shown to supplement the clamping devices shown in Fig. l and in my Patent No. 2,069,085.

Fig. 5 is an end view of a modified clamp and wedge.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the modified clamp.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of Fig. 7.

In using my invention I may employ whatever alternatives, or equivalents of structure that the exigencies of varying conditions may demand without departing from the underlying broad spirit of the invention.

In the drawing a conventional type of concrete form is shown. It comprises the usual board sides I secured to studdings 2. Wherever it is desired to hold the sides of the form in a definite spaced apart relation, liners or walers 3 are nailed to the studding so as to form an abutment for the end clamps 4. H0185 are usually bored through the boards I on one side in alignment with similar holes made in the boards on the other side of the form.

Clamp .holding tie rods 5 pass through these holes and they project a suitable distance outside of each clamp, 4. At the left-hand end of Fig. 1, aclamp 4 provided with a wedge take-up 6 is positioned on the rod 5. .This clamp has an enlarged diameter bearing end that engages the walers 3. On the inside of the form I, a cone 'Ifis positioned on a tubular end adjustment 8 thatis threaded in the cone. This tube outside of the form I is provided with a square or hexagon head 9 by means of which it is adjusted inside of the come I. This tube at the other end engages the small diameter ID of a collar II that issecured to the tie rod 5 by a set screw I2.

At the right hand endof Fig. 1, a clamp 4 similar to that shown at the left hand side is positioned on the rod 5. On the inside of this wall of the form, a plain cone I3 is used associated with a collar II. that is also fastened to the rod 5 by a set. screw I2.

The side walls I of the form are brought into alignment by the adjusting clamps 4 on the outside of the form and the separate adjusting tube 8 which enters the cone I; I In advance of pouring the concrete the side Walls I of the form are brought into approximate alignment by the tube 8.. Any further adjustment that is required may be made by the end clamps 4 of which the clamping lever I4 by reason of itsu teeth engaging the tie rod 5, is heldfirmly against end-wise movement. All the end clamps 4 as stated, have toothed levers I4 that are normally held in engagement with the rod 5 by light springs I5 placed between an extension I6 of the lever and an outside barrel II. This barrel has an enlarged conical end I8 that rests against the walers 3. The barrel I1 is a support for an interiorly positioned tube I9 that may slide lengthwise of the barrel. The tube I9 is held against dropping out of the barrel H by a side screw 20 threaded into the tube I9. It passes through a slot 2| in the barrel. The barrel is slotted vertically to receive a bifurcated wedge 6 between the tube I9 and the enlarged inner end I8 of the barrel so as to finally draw the cone I tightly against the inner face of one of the sides I of the form.

After the concrete has set, the clamps 4 are removed and the form is taken down. The cones I and I3 are withdrawn and the small diameters III of the collars II are expanded by reason of slots 22 which are formed lengthwise in it, parallel to the axis of the collars. By suitable cooperating means the rod at each end is out 01? so as to terminate a desired distance inside of the face of the concrete. The rods 5 during this cutting 01f operation are securely held against turning in the concrete by reason of the set screws l2 on the collars ll. After the rods 5 are cut off the open space left by the withdrawn cones is filled in with cement.

In Fig. 5 at the left hand edge the same clamp 4 and an unthreaded cone l3 associated with the collar H is used. At the right hand edge of this figure, a supplemental clamp 23 is used Within the studding space in addition to the clamp -4 shown at the left hand edge of the figure. The

clamp 23 arrangement is associated with-a tube I 24 that passes over the rod 5. Ithas alargeend.

25 that abuts the small end of a' cone 13; The

tube 24 is notched on each side at 26 .so. as to leave a wall 3l between the notchesa little larger than the diameter of the rod 5. The barrel portion of this clamp which surrounds. one end of the tube24 has a similar wall and is Similarly notched ,at-Z'! but the end walls of the 'two notches are not in vertical alignment with each other so that a bifurcated wedge 6 driven into the space between one face of the notch 27 in the barrel and the opposite face of the. notch 26 in the tube 24 will after the clamp. lever 28 has engaged the rod 5, draw the cone l3 and the ad- 'jacent wall of the form outward to align it. The clamping lever 28 is also controlled by a spring l5 similar to the clamping lever I 4 of a clamp .4. It has teeth 32 to engage the rod 5 that are eccentric to the pivot of the lever, end of the wedges 6 a chain may be secured and its other .end secured to the barrel in, any desiredmanner so that in use the wedges will not become lost. l

When the concrete has set, the tube. 24 and its cone l3. associated with the special clamp 23 are removed. After the form has. been taken down, and. the cone at the other end has. also been removed the collar "ll in place onthe'rod .5 remainsjin the concrete, similar to the disposition of the cones 1 shown. in Fig. 1'. i v Inthe use of my spacing clamps, etc-., I may combine the regular clamps as shown in Fig. ,1 brfthese clamps in combination with thespe'cial clamp shown in Fig. 5. Inthe latter event the two .outsid'efclamps position the tie mas in're spect of the outsi'dewalls. of the form, exterior of the studding. The clampat the right hand At the upper end of Fig. 5 is conventional, as described in my Patent No. 2,069,085. It secures an approximate first alignment which is completed by the special clamp.

The cones and the different clamps may be used in any other combinations than those shown, in other words I am not limited to the specific positions in which the parts are shown. The cones and tubes and barrels, etc., may be made of formed sheet metal as may be found desirable.

Self-aligning projections 29 are formed on the tube 24 to enter corresponding recesses in the barrel, Figs. 6 and 8. When the tube 24 i assembled in the barrel 23 these projections instantly align the uncut portions 30 of the barrel .and the uncut portions 3| of the tube 24 for the reception of a wedge 6.

I may use my spacing clamps and tie rods Without walers or studding for curb forms. The 'tie rods serve to properly space the forms to correct widths, which is of course done before the concrete is poured. The single tie rod serves an all around purpose, without the intervention of special spacing tubes, etc.

What I claim is:

1. A form clamp comprising a barrel, a springpressed toothed lever pivoted on the barrel, a pair of notches formed in the side walls of the barrel, a tube within the barrel having similar notches, a clamping rod ,within the tube adapted to be engaged by the toothed lever of the barrel, an enlarged end of the tube, a cone on the tube with its small end adjacent the large end of the tube, said cone being adapted to engage the adjacent wall of a form, and a bifurcated Wedge adapted to pass through the notches formed in the tube and the barrel to thereby pull the cone against the form.

2. A form tie, comprising a one-piece unitary tie rod of desired length, a pair of tubes and attached external cones positioned on the rod near its ends, a toothed eccentric lever on each tube, a bifurcated wedge for each tube adapted to pass through a slotin the'tube and straddle the rod as it is positioned'in the tubes, a pair of internal cones on the rod, a collar on the rod adjacent the small end of one cone, a flanged tube on the rod the flange engaging the small end of the other cone, and means for positioning the several cones on the rod independently of each other.

ROY C. DAY. 

